Explain Jinnah’s 14 points

While the Nehru Report was passed by the majority of the votes, Jinnah was opposed to it and made a ‘desperate attempt’ at the unity in December 1922 session of All India Conference in Calcutta. The Hindu Mahasabha leader M.R. Jayakar, simply brushed aside all calls for compromise.

Jinnah then walked out and joined the Shafi group. In March 1929, Jinnah put forward his famous 14 points which represented minimum demands for Muslims. These demands were:

Separate electorates for Muslims to be retained and supplemented by other concessions like 1/3rd representation in the Central and in all provincial cabinets.

Creation of Muslim majority provinces.

Reservation of posts for the Muslims in all services of the states.

In case of rejection of adult franchise, Bengal and Punjab were to have reservation in proportion to the population.

Residuary powers to be vested in the provinces.

Due to the opposition of Hindu Mahasabha, Moti Lal Nehru and other leaders found themselves in a dilemma, if the demands of the Muslim communal were accepted, the Hindu communalists would withdraw their support and if Hindu communal demands were accepted, the Muslim communal would withdraw their support.

So some concessions were made to Nehru Report so as to satisfy both Hindus and Muslims, but failed.

CONCLUSION

Not only were Muslim League, the Hindu Mahasabha and Sikh Communalists unhappy about the Nehru Report, but the younger section of the Congress led by Pt. J.L. Nehru and Subash Chander Bose was also angered.

Consequently, they rejected the Dominion Status and demanded for complete independence.